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Thanet District Council banned the exporting of live animals after dozens of sheep died at the Port of Ramsgate

A council has been accused of a "major administrative cock-up" after failing to make an insurance claim for up to £1m.

Thanet District Council (TDC) was court ordered to lift a ban on live animal exports through the Port of Ramsgate.

It paid more than £5m in compensation to traders but has not submitted an insurance claim to retrieve any money.

Campaigners said taxpayers had been left to foot the bill as the council missed the deadline.

Ian Driver, a community campaigner and former councillor, said the figures had only just come to light after a Freedom of Information request.

Mr Driver, said: "So there you have it: a major administrative cock-up by TDC means that taxpayers have been forced to foot a £5.1 million bill some, if not all, of which would have been covered by insurance payments had the claim been submitted in time. But it wasn't."

TDC said the maximum payment under the policy was £1m.

A spokesman said: "The legal claims against the council have all been settled and accounted for in previous year's budgets."

Legal battle

TDC banned live animal exports in 2012 after the deaths of more than 40 sheep.